Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004

41 Studies for improving economy etc in services

(1) The Auditor General for Wales must for each financial year undertake or promote studies designed to enable himto make recommendations—

(a) for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of the functions of best value authorities in Wales;

(b) for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of services provided by other localgovernment bodies in Wales;

(c) for improving the financialor other management of local government bodies in Wales.

(2) The studies which the Auditor General for Wales is required to undertake or promote under subsection (1) include in particular—

(a) studies designed to enable the Auditor General for Wales to determine what directions he should give under section 47;

(b) studies of information published in pursuance of section 47 which are designed to enable the Auditor General for Wales to determine, in relation to each financial year, what comparative information to publish himself about the standards of performance achieved by bodies which are relevant bodies for the purposes of that section.

(3) The Auditor General for Wales may undertake or promote other studies relating to the provision of services by local government bodies in Wales.

(4) Where the Auditor General for Wales undertakes or promotes a study under this section, he must publish or otherwise make available—

(a) the results of the study, and

(b) any recommendations made by him.

(5) Before undertaking or promoting a study under this section, other than a study of a kind mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2), the Auditor General for Wales must consult—

(a) any associations of local government bodies in Wales which appear to him to be concerned, and

(b) any associations of employees which appear to him to be appropriate.

(6) The Auditor General for Wales and the Assembly must co-operate with each other with respect to the exercise of their respective functions under this section and sections 94 and 95 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43) (reviews, investigations and studies by Assembly).